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Dropps makes eco-friendly laundry products like biodegradable detergent pods in compostable cardboard boxes, wool dryer balls that are good for up to 1,000 loads, and more.
Formulas are plant-based and free of dyes, fillers, and colorants, while some are scented with natural essential oils.
We tested Dropps for weeks, and they performed like traditional options with the added benefit of not cutting corners on safe ingredients or eco-conscious design hacks.
Read more: The best laundry detergent
Ideally, the household laundry detergent is a renaissance man. It's tasked with effectively cleaning clothes and removing stains while preserving the integrity of fabrics and leaving behind no residue. On top of that, it should smell great.
Dropps delivers on these needs with eco-friendly laundry detergent pods, dryer balls, mesh bags, and more. Plus, it exists in the sweet spot between sustainability, convenience, and cost.
Dropps makes eco-friendly laundry products, like detergent pods and dryer balls
Its best-selling detergent pods dissolve in water within seconds, releasing plant-based micro-organisms and safe synthetic ingredients that clean clothes efficiently. Dropps offers laundry detergent pods in pretty much every variety: scented or unscented, heavy-duty versions for large loads, ones for sensitive skin — the list goes on.
Dropps also sells scent boosters and fabric softener pods, booster pods, bestseller bundles, dish detergent pods, laundry bags, and dryer balls. There's no use of dye or colorants ever and items are not tested on animals. Products will also be delivered in recyclable, repulpable, compostable cardboard packaging.
You can find them on Dropps, or shop the Dropps Amazon store directly for all the perks of an Amazon membership. Prices range from $15 (50-count) to about $30 (160-count) depending on the formula and how many washes it covers. For reference, Amazon's Choice for Tide Pods is about the same at $0.25 per load. If you shop on Dropps, you can also save up to 20% by subscribing and get free shipping.
Dropps products meet the EPA's Safer Choice standards, which are designed to enforce stringent human and environmental health criteria. When designing new products, the company uses the program as its gold standard.
According to Dropps, 68% of traditional liquid laundry detergent bottles are not recycled and contribute to approximately 606 billion pounds of plastic that end up in our oceans annually. By using a biodegradable pod and zero plastic, the company aims to reduce plastic consumption by not encouraging any to begin with.
Though Dropps' eco-friendly ethos and descriptions like "eco-responsible laundry detergent" have the ring of a 21st-century startup, the company has been around in some form for decades. Seven years before the introduction of Tide Pods, Dropps pods were released as a more eco-friendly alternative. In 2017, they were awarded the EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year title for outstanding achievement in the formulation and product manufacturing.
What we tested and how they performed
Several of us at Insider Reviews tested Dropps and its various laundry products.
"I tested these with 15 loads of laundry and was pleasantly surprised. My clothes came out clean, smelled fresh, and felt soft to the touch. Dropps performed well on food stains, daily grime, and dirt, and on a variety of materials: denim, cotton, flannel, and nylon among them. The clean scent wasn't overwhelming, but it did linger after the wash. If you don't want to smell fragrance after washing, you should buy the unscented version.
In terms of dirt and stain removal, Dropps performs as well as traditional options, though marginally less than the strongest on the market, according to Wirecutter. For the perks of a safe, relatively eco-responsible product, though, I didn't have to compromise on performance." — Mara Leighton, senior reporter
"I tested these unscented pods because my skin is sensitive and I don't like overpowering scents. I know it's silly to say, but these pods are just so cute. I love the convenience of having a box of pods and the simplicity of needing one pod per load. There's no need to carry a heavy detergent bottle down to the laundry room in my apartment. — Isabel Thottam, freelance reporter
"For $25, you can get a trio of three wool dryer balls in three colors to match your laundry load and prevent staining: cream (for light-colored loads), charcoal (for a mix of colors), and black (for darker items). I always hated using dryer sheets because they have to be thrown out after one use. The dryer balls are reusable — Dropps says you can use their wool balls for over 1,000 loads — plus, they're chemical-free with no fillers or synthetic ingredients." — Isabel Thottam, freelance reporter
"My clothes get tangled together or stuck at the bottom of the washer drum all the time, so they're prone to stretching or ripping. This mesh washing bag protects them from tearing or stretching and keeps intimates together too.
I also use my mesh washing bag to wash two stuffed animals and it worked out great. The toys fit perfectly in the bag and were safe and clean after being washed. And when I used the bag for actual clothes, it was such a relief to not have any of my intimates twisted up or to find my sports bras stretched out. I have some bulkier wool sweaters that couldn't fit in the large 11-inch x 13-inch size bag, so it would be better if there were bigger sizes.
If you have any intimates or delicate clothes, I would suggest getting at least one of these because you'll end up using them every time you do your laundry." — Isabel Thottam, freelance reporter
"Even though I'm not a huge fan of scented products, I gave these a try. The scent was still strong to me, so I'll try the unscented one next time. The good thing is that it's made with natural essential oils and botanical extracts, not a bunch of chemicals.
I live in an older apartment building, so I have tile in my kitchen and on my bathroom floor. I wanted to give my bathroom floor and kitchen counter a good deep clean, so I used the booster pods to clean my tile and grout. It worked like a charm and was so easy to use. These pods seem small, but they're powerful. All you have to do is dissolve one pod in a gallon of water, then use a towel or sponge to apply the solution to the stain or surface area.
Since I was cleaning my tile and grout, Dropps recommended using less water, which helped form more of a concentrated paste that worked really well. I waited a few minutes, rinsed the area with some clean cold water, and my tile was clean. The pods can also be used for cleaning fabric, carpet, rugs, upholstery, and clothes, which makes them super versatile." — Isabel Thottam, freelance reporter
The bottom line
Dropps has managed to create powerful laundry detergents that are convenient and cost-effective. For consumers concerned about planet earth and with a budget, it's a win-win-win. If you're looking for a guilt-free option that performs like the standard stuff you've been using, this is a good option.
Shop Dropps directly on Dropps or Amazon
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